Obesity rates for children are out of control. About a third of American children are overweight and one-fifth are obese.
I think most people are aware of this news, since it’s been reported for quite some time. But if you need even more convincing of the gravity of the situation, check this out: doctors are finding that obese children (as young as 10) have the arteries of 45-year-olds! There have also been other heart abnormalities found that greatly raise their risk of heart disease.
Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City, and her colleagues used painless ultrasound tests to measure the thickness of the wall of a major neck artery in 70 children, ages 10 to 16. Almost all had abnormal cholesterol and many were obese.
The kids’ “vascular age” was about 30 years older than their actual age, Raghuveer said.
So, next time you see a young kid who is “chubby,” don’t just think it’s baby fat. Some will turn out OK (actor Jerry O’Connell, above, is one famous example), but as this study shows, they could be compromising their future health.
Not too surprising to me or for most people, but a study was done which supported a known fact, linking junk food or a “Western” diet and heart attacks. More specifically, junk food was found to be responsible for a third of heart attacks.
Researchers examined diets of 52 countries, questioning more than 16,000 patients, in which 5,700 of them had recently suffered their first heart attack. The participants were divided into one of three groups based on their diet/reported food intake. One group was labeled ‘Oriental’ because of its high intake of tofu, soy, and other sauces, the second group was ‘Western’ because of its high intake of fried food, salty snacks, and meat, and the third group was labeled ‘Prudent’ because of its high intake of fruits and vegetables.
I’m sure you know that breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer in women, but did you know drinking as little as a half of glass of wine may increase your risk of developing breast cancer? You hear it all the time that a glass of wine is good for your heart, but are you sure you’d want that glass if you knew it could increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer? And it’s not just wine, switching to beer or spirits (liquor) increases your chances just the same. The more alcohol consumed on a regular basis, the greater your risk.
I’m not saying avoid alcohol all together, I’m just saying be aware and practice moderation. Women thinking about having a few glasses of wine a day for their heart-healthy effects need to figure in the new findings when weighing the risks and benefits. It’s important to realize the regular, repeated use increases the chance of breast cancer and having a glass of wine or beer on occasion is not a problem. Besides, by limiting your alcohol intake not only will you help reduce your risk of breast cancer, but you can also cut calories and slim down your waist line.
Learn how you can help DietsInReview.com donate $1 to breast cancer research on your behalf during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and win some great prizes!
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